..to put up a Christmas avi?My poppy has been put away till next year so I feel my avi should change accordingly.

The shops have been full of Christmas goodies for weeks, I have even sang along to Christmas songs whilst browsing in the local garden centre, so is it prudent yet to change avis to Christmas themed ones??

Were you the one sitting in the corner doing a Victor Meldrew impression when everyone else was opening their surprise pressies?

I discreetly absented myself so not to spoil other's "fun".

Just as I wish I could now absent myself from the mawkish emotionalism of Christmas - hmmmph!

I sympathise honestly. Not saying this is your reason, some people are just naturally miserable... but I can see (and have felt this way myself in the past) when we have lost someone for eg, how the jollity of Christmas can magnify your sadness, especially if the person you have always spent Christmas with is no longer here.I also think Christmas is better if young kids are involved, I think it can lose a bit of glitter when they grow up.Having said that.....I am really getting in the mood myself now, I have even bought new Christmas lights for the mantelpiece...I will refrain from putting them up yet though.

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yeah we did it where I used to work - I got a great present one year, boxes of Chinese teas in lovely little decorated Chinese tins. I was well happy.

_________________“I’m writing to reach you now but...I might never reach you,Only want to teach you...about you”.

Just as I wish I could now absent myself from the mawkish emotionalism of Christmas - hmmmph!

I sympathise honestly. Not saying this is your reason, some people are just naturally miserable... but I can see (and have felt this way myself in the past) when we have lost someone for eg, how the jollity of Christmas can magnify your sadness, especially if the person you have always spent Christmas with is no longer here.I also think Christmas is better if young kids are involved, I think it can lose a bit of glitter when they grow up.Having said that.....I am really getting in the mood myself now, I have even bought new Christmas lights for the mantelpiece...I will refrain from putting them up yet though.

I'm joy itself the rest of the year.

Yes, children make Christmas - and most children are made around Christmas (11 December to be precise, if the Telegraph is to be believed).

I sympathise honestly. Not saying this is your reason, some people are just naturally miserable... but I can see (and have felt this way myself in the past) when we have lost someone for eg, how the jollity of Christmas can magnify your sadness, especially if the person you have always spent Christmas with is no longer here.I also think Christmas is better if young kids are involved, I think it can lose a bit of glitter when they grow up.Having said that.....I am really getting in the mood myself now, I have even bought new Christmas lights for the mantelpiece...I will refrain from putting them up yet though.

I'm joy itself the rest of the year.

Yes, children make Christmas - and most children are made around Christmas (11 December to be precise, if the Telegraph is to be believed).

I read that most divorces are filed just after the Christmas period...hopefully not the same couples..

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yeah we did it where I used to work - I got a great present one year, boxes of Chinese teas in lovely little decorated Chinese tins. I was well happy.

That's nice that someone put some thought into your pressie and didn't buy any old tat. I never got the chance at work to do a secret Santa....it was usually the owner bought us a couple of bottles of something and a night out.

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yeah we did it every year.

One of the ladies got soaps etc every year, she got the hump, and said do I smell or something. I laughed. It was only because no one knew what to get her, she was abit frumpish tbh.

Pfffft Christmas...yeuk I make it nice for the grandkids then return thankfully home for a glass of Calvados and a session on WoW, followed by an early night.

_________________If at any time in 2017 I have annoyed you, pissed you off or said the wrong thing....Suck it up snowflake, cause 2018 AINT gonna be any different

There are those who's opinion I value, there are those who's opinion I neither value or scorn, and then there are those who's opinion I just ignore as insignificant...I can assure you the latter outnumber the first two combined by a whole order of magnitude

[b].(It's hard to remember that the task is to drain the swamp, when you are up to your arse in alligators)

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

We always do it at our place. I got the OCD , diabetic t-total boss last year

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yes I have organised the one at work the last few years ( I took over when the original person left) we have a very fun varient.

gifts about $20 (although no one complains if people go bigger) all gifts are wrapped so you can't tell what they are, none have any names on them all in a pile under the tree

Everyone that put in a present gets to draw a number out of hat

the person with number 1 gets first pick of the wrapped presents. and unwraps theirs for all to see

the person with number 2 and subsequent can choose to eitherPick a new wrapped present from the pile Or steal one of the already unwrapped presents.

If you get your present stolen then it is your turn again and can choose to eitherPick a new wrapped present from the pile Or steal one of the already unwrapped presents.

any present can only be stolen 3 times before it is out and can't be stolen again (so 3rd thief gets to keep it)and you can't steal back what was just stolen from you (but can if another turn has passed)

_________________My job is to travel the world delivering Chaos and Candy.

We don't know the Questions... does that means we cannot seek the Answers?

_________________If at any time in 2017 I have annoyed you, pissed you off or said the wrong thing....Suck it up snowflake, cause 2018 AINT gonna be any different

There are those who's opinion I value, there are those who's opinion I neither value or scorn, and then there are those who's opinion I just ignore as insignificant...I can assure you the latter outnumber the first two combined by a whole order of magnitude

[b].(It's hard to remember that the task is to drain the swamp, when you are up to your arse in alligators)

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

We always do it at our place. I got the OCD , diabetic t-total boss last year

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yes I have organised the one at work the last few years ( I took over when the original person left) we have a very fun varient.

gifts about $20 (although no one complains if people go bigger) all gifts are wrapped so you can't tell what they are, none have any names on them all in a pile under the tree

Everyone that put in a present gets to draw a number out of hat

the person with number 1 gets first pick of the wrapped presents. and unwraps theirs for all to see

the person with number 2 and subsequent can choose to eitherPick a new wrapped present from the pile Or steal one of the already unwrapped presents.

If you get your present stolen then it is your turn again and can choose to eitherPick a new wrapped present from the pile Or steal one of the already unwrapped presents.

any present can only be stolen 3 times before it is out and can't be stolen again (so 3rd thief gets to keep it)and you can't steal back what was just stolen from you (but can if another turn has passed)

Sounds like musical chairs with pressies instead of chairs, I hope you didn't always end up with the one no one wanted.